Field towel package and method of making same

ABSTRACT

A field towel package and method of making same, comprising a plurality of prearranged and pre-moistened field towels sealed within a packaging material having an exterior surface with an outdoor image. The package includes means for removing the pre-moistened field towels from the package and preferably includes means for resealing the packaging material so the remaining field towels within the packaging material remain moist for later use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The need to maintain personal hygiene in the outdoors continuesto be an issue for hunters, scouts at camping, military personnel, andthe like, when washing facilities are not readily available or whenwater resources or opportunities for washing are limited.

[0002] Accordingly, there is a need for pre-moistened field towelssuitable for washing and maintaining personal hygiene that are suitablypackaged for outdoor environments and which may be individually removedfrom the package as desired while maintaining the moisture of theremaining field towels for later use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention is a field towel package comprising aplurality of prearranged and pre-moistened field towels sealed within apackaging material having an exterior surface with an outdoor image. Thepackage includes means for removing the pre-moistened field towels fromthe package and preferably includes means for resealing the packagingmaterial so the remaining field towels within the packaging materialremain moist for later use.

[0004] The present invention further provides a method for packagingfield towels. The method comprises providing a plurality of prearrangedand pre-moistened field towels, sealing the field towels within apackaging material that has an exterior surface that includes an outdoorimage, and providing a means for removing at least one of thepre-moistened field towels from the package. Further, the method of thepresent invention preferably includes means for resealing the packagingmaterial so the remaining field towels within the packaging materialremain moist for later use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of thefield towel package of the present invention.

[0006]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the field towel package ofFIG. 1 as viewed along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

[0007]FIG. 3 is a rear plan view of the field towel package of FIG. 1.

[0008]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the fieldtowel package of the present invention.

[0009]FIG. 5 is a front plan view of another embodiment of the fieldtowel package of the present invention.

[0010]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a field towel package showingan alternative means for removing a towel from the package and resealingthe package by providing overlapping edges of packaging material.

[0011]FIG. 7 is a plan view of an embodiment of a field towel with anoutdoor image.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Drawing FIGS. 1 through 7 illustrate various embodiments of thefield towel package of the present invention wherein like referencenumerals designate corresponding parts of the present inventionthroughout the several views. FIGS. 1-3 illustrate one embodiments ofthe field towel package 10 of the present invention. The field towelpackage 10 comprises a plurality of prearranged and pre-moistened fieldtowels 12 sealed within a packaging material 14. The packaging material14 includes an exterior surface 16 with an outdoor image 20. The package10 includes opening means 22 to enable a user to selectively remove atleast one of the pre-moistened field towels 12 from the packagingmaterial 14. Preferably, the field towel package 10 further includesresealing means 24 for resealing the package 10 after the removal of afield towel 12 such that the remaining field towels 12 within thepackaging material 14 maintain their moisture.

[0013] The field towels 12 may be any type of cloth or syntheticmaterial which is pre-moistened with water or one or more othersolutions, such as cleaning solutions or solvents, moisturizers,disinfectants, deodorizers, fragrances, insect repellants, etc. Itshould be appreciated that depending on the user and the intended use ofthe towel 12, certain solutions may be desired over others. For example,most hunters typically desire to mask their human odor when hunting.Therefore, a field towel 12 with a non-scented cleaning solution willlikely be preferred. Additionally or alternatively, the field towel 12may also include a deodorizer solution or an animal scent solution tomask human odors and/or to attract the animal being hunted.Additionally, the hunter may also desire a towel 12 pre-moistened withan insect repellent solution.

[0014] The towels 12 are preferably made of a material that issufficiently strong so as to prevent ripping or tearing of the towelduring normal anticipated use. Furthermore, it should be appreciatedthat the field towels 12 may be any desired color, shape or size. Anexample of a preferred towel 12 would be a non-scented “baby wipe” suchas those manufactured by Kimberly-Clark Corporation.

[0015] The packaging material 14 is preferably comprised of anon-moisture or non-solvent permeable material in order to minimize orreduce the loss of moisture of the pre-moistened towels 12. Preferablythe packaging material is a thermoplastic film material. Packagingmaterials such as, polypropylene, polyester, polyvinylidene fluoride,polycarbonate, polymethyl metacrylate, ethylene acrylic acid,polystyrene, cellophane, polyvinyl chloride, acetate fiber, single ormulti laminated films, or a combination of above listed materials may besuitable. Additionally, the packaging material 14 may comprise paper,film, aluminum foil, or natural or synthetic cloth, or any othermaterial that has been lined, coated or otherwise treated so as tominimize or reduce moisture loss. It should be appreciated that thepackaging material 14 may be made from multiple plies or layers. Forexample, the packaging material may have a cloth outer ply and athermoplastic inner ply, or the cloth outer ply may have an insidesurface that is lined, coated or otherwise treated to minimize or reducemoisture loss.

[0016] As previously identified, the exterior surface 16 of thepackaging material 14 includes an outdoor image 20 such as a design,color, or the like, that is identifiable with or otherwise associatedwith an outdoor environment. For example, a typical outdoor image mayinclude a “camouflage pattern,” “blaze orange” (also known as “hunter'sorange”), desert fatigues, jungle fatigues, or any other color orcombination of colors and patterns to simulate an outdoor environment sothat the package 10 is less distracting or noticeable when used in thatoutdoor environment. Similarly, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the fieldtowel 12, may also be imaged with an outdoor image 20 so that the towel12 is less distracting or noticeable when used in that outdoorenvironment.

[0017]FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a preferred embodiment of the field wipepackage 10 having a body portion 26 that is substantially rectangular.However, the body portion 26 may be any shape, including square, oval,circular (as illustrated in FIG. 5), or any other desired shape. As bestillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the body portion 26 is formed into arectangular package, the first and second ends of the body portion 30 a,30 b are preferably sealed or otherwise fused, crimped, or bondedtogether to sealingly retain the towels 12 within the packaging material14. The first end 30 a may be sealed before or after the introduction ofthe moistened field towels 12, with the second end 30 b sealed after themoistened towels 12 are introduced into the body portion 26 of thepackaging 10.

[0018] As previously identified, the body portion 26 of the package 10includes a means 22 for selectively removing at least one of the fieldtowels 12 from the packaging material 14. The means 22 for removing thepre-moistened field towels 12 from the package preferably comprises anopening 52 in the packaging material 14. The opening 52 may be cut intothe packaging material 14, or, alternatively, the packaging material 14may be scored or perforated such that the user must tear the packagingmaterial along the perforations to open the package to remove a towel12. The opening 52 may be any desired shape and size (such as an ovalshape as in FIG. 1 or as a slot as in FIG. 4). The opening 52 may be cutor scored into the packaging material before or after the insertion ofthe towels 12 during the packaging operation. Alternatively, asillustrated in FIG. 6, the opening 52 may simply comprise abutting oroverlapping edges 32, 34 of the packaging material 14 which have notbeen fused, crimped, bonded or otherwise joined together.

[0019] Also as previously identified, the package 10 also preferablyincludes a means 24 for resealing the package 10 after a towel 12 hasbeen removed so as to minimize or reduce moisture loss of the remainingtowels 12 in the package. The preferred means 24 for resealing thepackage includes a resealable flap 50. As best illustrated in FIG. 2,the resealable flap 50 may be a separate tab or portion of the packagingmaterial 14 that is disposed over the opening 52 which can be lifted toexpose the opening 52 and then replaced repeatedly without damaging thepackaging material 14. Alternatively, means 24 for resealing may simplycomprise overlapping edges 32, 34 of the packaging material 14 aspreviously described and illustrated in FIG. 6. The overlapping edges32, 34 may include a similar adhesive as previously described to enablethe overlapping edges 32, 34 to be separated and resealed repeatedly.Alternatively, the overlapping edges 32, 34 may act to substantiallyseal the package without any adhesive. Although merely providingoverlapping edges may not provide an air-tight seal, if the amount ofoverlap is sufficient, moisture loss should still be sufficientlyminimized or reduced to prevent the remaining towels within the packagefrom quickly drying out. Other means 24 for resealing the package 10,may include snap-on locking mechanisms or zippers (not shown), such asthose common on plastic sandwich or freezer bags.

[0020] It should be appreciated that the entire exterior surface 16 ofthe packaging material 14, may include the outdoor image 20 oralternatively, only on a portion of the packaging material 14, such asthe flap 50, may include the outdoor image 20.

[0021]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the package 10 as viewed alonglines 2-2 of FIG. 1 illustrating a plurality of pre-moistened, foldedfield towels 12, stacked in a predetermined quantity and sealed withinthe packaging material 14.

[0022]FIG. 3 is a rear view of the body portion 26 of the package 10 ofFIG. 1 showing the back panel 28 and a portion of the outdoor image 20.It is contemplated that the back panel 28 may or may not be imaged. Insome instances, the back panel 28 may have instructions, wordings orsymbols as desired or to meet any regulations that may apply to aproduct of this kind. As an example, the back panel 28 may includeinstructions on how to use and dispose of the pre-moistened convenientfield towels 12, a description of the ingredients comprising thesolutions in the field towels 12, etc.

[0023] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, as shown inFIG. 5, the body portion 26 of the packaging 10 is substantially oval.In this embodiment, the pre-moistened field towels 12 may also be ovalor formed in a shape as to suitably fit in the packaging. Thesubstantially oval packaging of this embodiment includes an edge 30similar to the first and second ends 30 a and 30 b of the FIGS. 1-4. Theoval packaging embodiment includes an outdoor image 20, and means 22 forremoval of the towels 12 and preferably a means 24 for resealing thepackage 10. As with the previous embodiments, the means for removing thetowels preferably includes an opening 52 cut or scored in the packagingmaterial. The preferred means 24 for resealing the package 10 includes aflap 50 having an adhesive that will allow the flap to be lifted andresealed repeatedly without damaging the packaging material 14. However,it should be appreciated that any of the above described means 22 forremoving the towels 12 from the package 10 and means 24 for resealingthe package 10 may be used in this alternative embodiment as well. Theedge 30 of the oval packaging is preferably sealed as described abovewith respect to the other alternative embodiments. Similarly, theopening 52 in the body portion 24 may be located at any suitableposition. For example, the opening 52 may be on the top, bottom or sidesof the package 10.

[0024] In yet another embodiment (not shown), rather than the towels 12being prearranged in a stack of a predetermined quantity of foldedtowels 12 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the towels 12 may be pre-arrangedin a roll form. In the roll form, the field towels 12 may be precut intoindividual towels, or alternatively, the towels 12 may comprise onecontinuous sheet with spaced perforations similar to disposablehousehold kitchen towels or toilet tissue rolls, such that individualtowel segments may be removed from the remaining roll by pulling ortearing the towel along the perforations. Again, for retention of thesolvent needed to maintain the pre-moistened field towel, the packaginguseful for the roll form may be similar to the packaging described forthe pre-cut field towels previously described with reference to FIGS.1-6.

[0025] Having thus described the preferred embodiments of the presentinvention, those of skill in the art will readily appreciate that theteachings found herein may be applied to yet other embodiments withinthe scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for packaging field towels, comprising:providing a packaging material, wherein the packaging material has aninterior and exterior surface, and wherein the exterior surface includesan outdoor image; providing a plurality of prearranged and pre-moistenedfield towels; sealing the plurality of pre-moistened towels in thepackaging material; and providing a means for removing at least one ofthe pre-moistened field towels from the package.
 2. The method of claim1, wherein at least a portion of the outdoor image is a camouflagepattern.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of theoutdoor image is hunter's orange.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein theplurality of prearranged and pre-moistened field towels compriseindividual adjacently stacked towels.
 5. The method of claim 1, whereinthe plurality of prearranged and pre-moistened field towels areprearranged in a roll.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the pluralityof prearranged pre-moistened field towels are substantially rectangular.7. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of prearranged andpre-moistened field towels are substantially oval.
 8. The method ofclaim 1, wherein each of the plurality of pre-moistened field towelsincludes an outdoor image.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the outdoorimage is a camouflage pattern.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein theoutdoor image is hunter's orange.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein themeans for removing at least one of the pre-moistened field towelsincludes a resealable slot.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the meansfor removing at least one of the pre-moistened field towels from thepackage includes a slot with an overlapping portion of the packagingmaterial disposed over the slot.
 13. A field towel package, comprising:a plurality of prearranged and pre-moistened field towels; a packagingmaterial having an exterior surface with an outdoor image and whereinsaid plurality of prearranged and pre-moistened field towels are sealedwithin the packaging material; and means for removing at least one ofthe pre-moistened field towels from the package.
 14. The field towelpackage of claim 13 further including means for resealing the packageafter removal of at least one of said pre-moistened field towels suchthat the remaining field towels remain moist.
 15. The field towelpackage of claim 14, wherein at least a portion of the outdoor image isa camouflage pattern.
 16. The field towel package of claim 14, whereinat least a portion of the outdoor image is hunter's orange.
 17. Thefield towel package of claim 14, wherein the plurality of prearrangedand pre-moistened field towels comprise individual adjacently stackedtowels.
 18. The field towel package of claim 14, wherein the pluralityof prearranged and pre-moistened field towels comprise a roll of towels.19. The field towel package of claim 14, wherein the pre-moistened fieldtowels are substantially rectangular.
 20. The field towel package ofclaim 14, wherein each of the plurality of prearranged and pre-moistenedfield towels includes an outdoor image.